Heating and ventilating apparatus



1952 G. B. CUNNINGHAM 2,616,356

HEATING AND VENTILATING APPARATUS Filed April 13, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 4 f H -H o I I 23 INVENTOR.

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Nov. 4, 1952 G. B. CUNNINGHAM 2,616,356

HEATING AND VENTILATING APPARATUS Filed April 13, 1949 3 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR. 6 664 5. Ca/v/v/mszmm ,WCZZY Nov. 4, 1952 G. B. CUNNINGHAM 2,616,356

HEATING AND VENTILATING APPARATUS Filed April 13, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J" f ff -1 -j g7 rGAZZ I TTORN E Y5 Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEATING AND VENTILATIN G APPARATUS George B. Cunningham, Birmingham, ,Ala assignor to Cunningham Engineering Company,

a partnership Application April is, 1949, Serial No.- 87,330.

and a. reversible fan and in which the heating.

unit is so located that it offers no interference to the flow of air when the apparatus is being used as a ventilating unit.

A further object of my invention is to provide a combined heating and. ventilating apparatus which shall include a heating unit and. a reversible fan, together with improved means for directing the flow of .air. induced by the fan over the heating unit when the apparatus is being used for heating.

Another object of my invention is to provide a combined heating and ventilating apparatus which shall include a reversible. fan mounted in a suitable opening in a room, together withshut ters for closing the opening, and automatic means for closing the shutterswhen the. apparatus is not in operation and when operating to heat theroom.

Among other important features, my invention provides improved heating and ventilating apparatus including. a reversible fan, a housing for the fan and shutters for the housing, together with a heating unit positioned at one side of the housing, all constructed and arranged whereby, when the apparatus is .being used for ventilating, the shutters are open and the air current induced by the fan flows without restriction to one side of. the heating unit, and when the apparatus is used for heating, the shutters are closed and the reverse air current is directed over the heating unit.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this application, in which;

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of apparatus constructed inaccordance with my invention mounted in an opening ina-room;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along. the line 11-11 of Fig. 1;,

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view drawn to a larger scale and taken along the line III-III of Fig. 1 to show the shutter operating means;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus showing the shutters in closed position and-with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a detail. seotionalview showing the manner in which the shutters are mounted in the frame Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lineVL-VI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail bottom plan view showing a modified means for operating the shutters;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken along the line VIII-"VHF of Fig. i;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of a part of the shutter operating mechanism, and

Fig.- 10 is a detail sectional View, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the heating unit.

Referring. now to. the drawings for a better understanding. of my invention, I show a generally rectangular frame HJ adapted for mounting in an opening of the ceiling. or wall of a room or other enclosure and through which my improved apparatus withdraws air for the purpose of ventilation, andintroduces a current of heated air for heating. As shown the rectangular frame I0 may conveniently be madeof wood. Secured tothe frame [0 in any suitable manner, along the sides thereof; isa rectangular metal frame made up ofangles I l with their flanges [2 turned inwardly of the frame i B. Mounted in the frame I] are a plurality of shutters l3 each-of which is made. of metal with one edge. rolled over, as shown at It, arounda rod 1 6, which is journalled in holes provided in the upstanding flange l2 of the frame I I, as shownin Fig. 5 of the draw: ing. Theendsof therod [6 may be provided with bosses l! to prevent the rods from coming out of the holes in which they are mounted. The

, opposite edge of each of-the shutters I3 is curved overas shown at 18 in Figs. 3 and 6, and the shutters are of such width, that the curved portion l8 fits over the turned over portion [4 of its adjacent. shutter when the shutters are in closed position as shown inFig. 3 of the drawing. Preferably also, eit r the shutters I3 is provided with a strip of fell; ill adjacent its turned overportion I! so that, when the shutters are closed, as presently to be described, the noise of closing is deadened. v

'Each of. the shutters l3is provided with a clip 21' suitably'secured'theretoas at 22,- which clips are all pivotally'c'onnected to an operatingrod 23 by means of pins 24. Connected to the rod 23' is a link 26, and connected to the link 26 is a second dpefafiii'g arm 21. A spring 28 is 001lnected' tothe arm Trans and is anchored at its opposite end 3T toftl'lecasing, whereby the shutters are alwa s biased toward a closed position'. In order to" cushion movements of the operating arm" 21, it is connected to the link 26' by means of a pin 32 see Fig. 9, extending through a slot 33 n theouter end 35 or the link 26 andwhich bearsagainst a spring. 34. The lower end of the. spring 34 bears against an abutment 36 which surrounds the link 2.6-. The link 26 is made adjustable as to length by having its outer end- 35 screwed into the inner end as shown in Fig. 9 and-held in-adjustedposition by means of a nut 40. The arm- 21 is actuated ina direction-to open the shutters [3 by means of an electric motor 31 the operation of which wu'iibedescribed here in'af ter.

It will be noted byreferenceto Figs. 2' and 4 a. of the drawings that the shutters l3 do not control the entire area of the opening defined by the frame iii. In one side of the opening, is mounted an electric heating unit 38 comprised of a plurality of heating elements 39 and ll which are provided with heat radiating fins 42. The heating unit is provided with a casing comprised of side members 43 and i l, the member 43 being curved upwardly and over to define a lateral opening it which may be covered by a screen 4?. Preferably, also, the side member 43 is lined with insulating material, such as fiber glass, as indicated at 45. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the heating unit 38 is secured at its ends, as shown at 53 and 49, to the flange l2 of the frame H, and along one side bears against the frame Mounted on the frame In on the opposite side from the metal frame H, is a fan housing 5| which is frusto-conical, or funnel-like, in shape with its axis eccentrically located with respect to the center of the frame at, whereby to provide a covered recess 52 at one side ofthe frame for the heating unit 38. As shown in Fig. 2, the housing 5i is provided with a substantially flat portion 53 which extends over the recess 52.

Extending across the housing 5i and secured thereto near the inner end thereof are a pair of angle braces 5 and 5t. Mounted on the braces 54 and 56 is a fan Bl, having a shaft 58 mounted in a bearing 59 which, in turn, is supported from angle supports 5d and 56 by means of a plate 62. The shaft 58 extends through the bearing 59 and has mounted on its opposite end a pulley 63 which is driven by means of a reversible electric motor 6d and belt 66. As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the fan 5'l is mounted with a substantial portion of its blades located within the housing 5| so that, when the fan is operating in a direction to blow air into the room, and with the shutters it closed, an air current is forced into the housing, against the closed shutters, and into the recess 52 in which the heating element 38 is located. In this way, all of the air current induced by the fan 51 is forced to flow over and through the heating element. On the contrary, when the fan is rotating in the opposite direction, to withdraw air from the room through the open shutters I3, the heating element itself and the cover 53 over the recess in which it is located, interrupt the flow of air thereover and all of the air current induced by the fan passes through the shutters l3 without restriction.

At cl is shown a source of electric current. The reversible motor 64 is energized to run in one direction through a circuit 88 and to turn in the opposite direction through a circuit 69. A four-pole electric switch H is interposed in said circuits and when turned in one direction energizes the circuit 68' and when turned in the opposite direction it energizes the circuit 69. It will be understood thatwhen the fan 5'! is operating in a direction to draw air through the open shutters E3, the apparatus is used for ventilating and when operating in a direction to force air over and through the heating element 38, with the shutters l3 closed, the apparatus is used for heating. The heating element 38 is energized by means of an electric circuit 12 and the motor which operates the shutters I3 is energized by means of an electric circuit H. A four-pole electric switch 14 is interposed in said circuits so that when the heating circuit 12 is energized, the circuit to the motor 31 is open, or deene'rgized, and the shutters l3 are closed by action of thespring 28. When the switch 14 is turned in the opposite direction, to energize the circuit l3 and open the shutters IS, the circuit 72 to the heating element 38 is deenergized.

Instead of the electrical means heretofore described for operating the shutters I3, I may employ the mechanical means shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In accordance with this modification of my invention, I may employ a bell crank lever 16, which is pivotally mounted at TI on the angle brace 54. Mounted on the outer end of the fan shaft 58 is a disc 18. One arm 19 of the bell crank lever is provided with a friction shoe 8| which bears against the disc 78, and which is pressed toward the disc by means of a pair of springs 82 and 83, which bear at their outer ends against a crosspiece 84 mounted on the arm l9. Preferably, the friction shoe 8| is provided with a V groove 86 therein which bears against a complementary edge 81 on the disc 18. The other arm of the bell crank lever 76 is connected to a link 88 which, in turn, is connected to the operating rod 23 for the shutters |3. As shown in Fig. 7, the rod 88 passes through a hole in the outer end of the arm l6 and bears on its opposite sides against springs 89 and 90 to cushion its movements and deaden the sound of the opening and closing of the shutters.

It will be seen from a consideration of Fig. 7 of the drawing, that with the disc 18 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow, the friction shoe 8| will remain in the full line position shown, in which position the shutters are open. If we assume the disc 1 8 to be rotating in the opposite direction, the shoe 8| will be pulled to the dotted position indicated in Fig. 7, in which position the arm 16 will have forced the shutters closed through the rod 23 and link 88. In event the fan is not in operation, the shutters are closed by means of a spring 9| secured at one end to the arm 16 and at its opposite end to a stationary member, not shown.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have devised an improved heating and ventilating apparatus which is simple of design, economical of manufacture, quiet in operation, and one capable of operating efficiently either as a heating or cooling apparatus.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A combined heating and ventilating apparatus adapted for mounting in an opening in a room comprising a frame, a frusto-conical housing mounted on a frame and open at both ends, a reversible fan mounted in the housing substantially coaxial therewith, means to rotate the fan to induce a current of air through the housing into the room when used for heating and to exhaust air from the room when used for ventilating, a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted in the frame in position when open to afford free passage for the air current therethrough from the room and to interrupt said passage when closed, a heating unit mounted in the frame at one side of the housing in position for the currentofair induced by the fan to be deflected thereover by the shutters when the shutters are closed, and means to close the shutters when the fan is being operated to blow air into the room and to open the shutters when the fan is being operated to exhaust air from the room.

2. A combined. heating and ventilating apparatus adapted for mounting in an opening in a room comprising a frame, a frusto-conical housing mounted on the frame and open at both ends, areversible fanmounted in the housing substantially coaxial therewith, means to rotate the fan to induce a current of air through the housing into the room when used for heating and to exhaust air from the room when used for ventilating, a plurality of shutters pivotally mounted in the frame in position when open to afford free passage for the air current therethrough from the room and to interrupt said passage when closed, a heating unit mounted in the frame at one side of the housing in position for the current of air induced by the fan to be deflected thereover by the shutters when the shutters are closed, and means constructed and arranged to open the shutters when the fan is operating to withdraw air from the room and to close the shutters when the fan is operating to blow air into the room, the opening through the housing being eccentrically located with respect to the center of the frame, thereby providing a covered portion under which the heating unit is located, and the fan blades being located within the housing opening thereby to direct the current of air over and through the heating unit into the room when the fan is operating to blow air into the room and the shutters are closed.

3. In a combined heating and ventilating apparatus adapted for mounting in an opening in a room, a frame surrounding the opening, a covered recess along one side of the frame, a funnellike housing mounted on the frame laterally of the recess and having an opening therethrough eccentrically located with respect to the center of the frame, a heating unit located in said recess, a plurality of shutters mounted in the frame in position when closed to interrupt the passage of air through the frame and deflect the same over and through th heating unit into the room and when open to afford free passage of air therethrough from the room, a fan mounted in the housing with its axis of rotation substantially coaxial with the opening through the housing, means to drive the fan in a direction to force air into the room when the apparatus is used for heating and to drive the fan in a direction to withdraw air from the room when the apparatus is used for ventilating, and means to open the shutters when the fan is operating in a direction to withdraw air from the room and to close the shutters when the fan is operating to blow air into the room.

4. In a combined heating and ventilating apparatus adapted for mounting in an opening in a room, a frame surrounding the opening, a covered recess mounted in the frame along one side thereof, a heating unit in said recess, a funnellike housing mounted on the frame laterally of the recess and having an opening therethrough eccentrically located with respect to the center of the frame, a plurality of shutters mounted in the frame in position when closed to interrupt the passage of air through the frame and deflect the same over and through the heating unit into the room and when open to afford free passage of air therethrough from the room, a fan mounted in the housing with its axis of rotation iii! substantially coaxial with the opening through the housingmeans to rotate the fan selectively in a direction to force air into the room when the apparatus is used for heating and in a direction to withdraw air from the room when the apparatus is used for ventilating, means to open the shutters when withdrawing air from the room, and spring means operatively connected tothe shutters to close them when the fan is-not inoperation and when operating: to blow air'into theroom.

5; Ina combined heating and ventilatingapp'aratus adapted for mounting in an opening in a room, a frame surrounding the opening, a funnellike housing mounted on the frame with the opening through the housing eccentrically located with respect to the center of the frame thereby providing a covered recess along one side of the frame, a heating unit located in said recess. a plurality of shutters mounted in the frame in position when closed to interrupt the passage of air through the frame and deflect the same over and through the heating unit into the room and when open to afford free passage of air therethrough from the room, a fan mounted in the housing with its axis of rotation substantially coaxial with the opening through the housing, a reversible electric motor operatively connected to the fan, an electric circuit connected to the reversible motor for operating the reversible motor in a direction for the fan to withdraw air from the room, a second circuit connected to said reversible motor for operating the reversible motor in a direction for the fan to force air into the room, a reversing switch interposed in the first and second mentioned circuits, a second motor operatively connected to the shutters for opening the shutters when withdrawing air from the room, a circuit connected to said second motor, and spring means operatively connected to the shutters to close them when the circuit to the second mentioned motor is deenergized.

6. In a combined heating and ventilating apparatus adapted for mounting in an opening in a room, a frame in the opening, a covered recess along one side of the frame, a heating unit in said recess, a funnel-like housing mounted on the frame laterally of the recess and having an opening therethrough eccentrically located with respect to the center of the frame, a plurality of shutters mounted in the frame in position when closed to interrupt the passage of air through the frame and deflect the same over and through the heating unit into the room and when open to afford free passage of air therethrough from the room, a fan mounted in the housing with its axis of rotation substantially coaxial with the opening through the housing, a fan shaft, means for driving the fan selectively in a direction to force air into the room when the apparatus is used for heating and in a direction to withdraw air from the room when the apparatus is used for ventilating, a lever arm operatively connected to the shutters to open and close them, and friction clutch means operatively connected to the lever arm to open the shutters when the fan is rotating in a direction to withdraw air from the room and to close the shutters when the fan is operating in the reverse direction.

GEORGE B. CUNNINGHAM.

(References on following page) REFERENCES CITEU 7 The foilowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Number Name Date 495,528 Stuyvesant Apr. 18, 1893 1,019,818 McMurdie Mar. 12, 1912 1,254,216 Draws Jan. 22, 1918 1,308,236 Glass July 1, 1919 in 1,487,828 Ziganek et a1 Mar. 25, 1924 Josef -7 Dec. 30, 1924 Number Name Date Albrecht Nov. 8, 1927 Moore June 5, 1928 Feinberg Dec. 18, 1928 Vining June 10, 1930 Leeuw Nov. 20, 1934 Samuelson et a1. Aug. 20, 1940 Denman June 29, 1943 Sutcliffe et a1 Jan. 18, 1944 Morrison Sept. 18, 1945 Bernstein July 19, 1949 

